A drunk man put a young boy in a neck lock and threw him to the ground before chasing other children and throwing a bucket at one of them, a court has heard.

Swansea Magistrates’ Court heard how Benjamin Jonathan Roberts was swearing and shouting at people in the street, ran off when police were called and then adopted a “fighting stance” when he was cornered by an officer.

Julie Sullivan, prosecuting, said police were alerted to a disturbance involving a drunk male near the Sketty Park shops at around 6.15pm on August 9.

Roberts was seen by witnesses being abusive to children in the area, and kicking parked cars.

The court heard Roberts then approached a young boy and asked him “do you want to fight?” before grabbing him in a neck lock and pulling him to the floor.

Children were 'upset and scared'

The youngster managed to free himself and get away, but a short time later Roberts – who by now was armed with a long wooden pole and a bucket – approached the youngster and a group of his friends, and began chasing them, throwing the bucket at one of the children.

The children ran into nearby Bay Tree Avenue pursued by Roberts, who then began swearing and shouting abuse at people in the street.

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One of the residents called police, and when a PC arrived on the scene he found the defendant and around 20 people, including several “upset and scared” children.

The case was heard at Swansea Magistrates' Court (Image: Google Maps)

Roberts ran off and was chased by an officer who cornered him against a wall.

He then came towards the officer with fists raised and in “fighting stance”. When his warnings went unheeded, the PC struck Roberts on the leg with his baton and took him to the floor – the pair then “struggled” on the floor until backup arrived and Roberts was restrained.

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The court heard that Roberts had drunk two or three cans of beer, two cans of gin and tonic, four or five pints of beer, and four double shots of Jack Daniel’s whisky on the day in question, and was “extremely drunk”.

Roberts, 31, of Rosemary Close, Sketty, Swansea, pleaded guilty to common assault, to a public order matter and to possessing 1.2 grams of cannabis.

Tirade of abuse at PC

Magistrates also heard details of a previous incident when he had subjected a different police officer to a “tirade of abuse” after being arrested, threatening to burn the officer’s house down with his family inside and paying someone to kill him.

In his police interview, Roberts had said he had left the bar where he was drinking at 5.45pm so he could get home before his curfew started but could not remember much after that.

Roberts also pleaded guilty to a public order offence on May 16 when he had subjected the PC who had arrested him in the street to a prolonged “tirade of abuse” and threats in the police car going back to Swansea Central police station and in the custody suite during which he repeatedly said he would torch the officer’s house with his family inside and would pay someone £5,000 to kill him.

The court heard the officer said he had never been subjected to – nor witnessed – such a degree of abuse or threats in more than 25 years on the job.

Roberts has previous convictions for some 22 offences, and was on a community order – with curfew – at the time of the Sketty Park disturbance.